Esther Max / CC
The province has announced it will fund health authorities and medical institutions throughout Nova Scotia to pay their LPNs the same rate.
A 12 per cent rate increase is being rolled out to around 2,600 LPNs working with health authorities, long-term care, disability support programs and home care as of June 11, 2020.
The decision stems from a grievance involving 400 LPNs in the former Capital District Health Authority, which saw them receive the rate raise in June of this year, retroactively dating back to March of 2014.
Janet Hazelton, Nova Scotia Nurses Union President says applying the increase to only a select few LPNs didn’t sit well with many others.
“Our LPNs that we represent felt very devalued when it didn’t apply to them,” she said.
“Northwood LPNs were making 12 per cent less than LPNs working at the QE2. So I’m glad government saw that it wasn’t fair, that it wasn’t right and fixed it.”
The government says the increase will bring annual pay for a full-time LPN at the top of their regular pay salary scale increase from $52,707 to $58,634. It will also cost the province $19 million annually.
